Mouth of the Tucannon

This short hike traverses the 30-acre Tucannon Habitat Management area. The "trail" is a gravel road originally intended to access an old borrow pit near where the Tucannon River flows into the Snake River. The protected riparian area along the river provides a home for an abundance of wildlife in this otherwise dry landscape that will have you wishing for your binoculars if you didn't bring them along.

From the gate, head downstream for 0.2 miles before crossing the first of two cattle barriers. The road meanders close to the river and may be muddy or flooded when run-off is high.

Take your time and look for large raptor nests in the old locust trees and evidence of beaver and porcupine nibbling along the riverbank. Deer tromp through the vegetation and the Tucannon is one of eastern Washington's best trout streams, so be aware that hunters may be present in season. The road ends at an overlook of the delta that makes a nice turnaround spot at 1.3 miles.